When Democrat Barbara Canales was thanking supporters for her historic Election Night win for Nueces County judge there was one group she made sure not to leave out — crossover voters.

"I want to thank those Republicans that knew that the best choice for Nueces County was Barbara Canales. We could not have done it without them," she said at her victory party Tuesday night. "It took Democrats. It took Republicans. It took Independents."

Canales' win against Republican Mike Pusley marks the first time in more than a decade that a Democrat will hold the county judge's seat.

It also broke a glass ceiling for women, who have never before held the top office, a fact she happily acknowledged.

" If a little girl is told she's talking too much chances are she's going to grow up to be the county judge, or the next governor or the next state senator or whatever else she wants to be," Canales said.

Why it's historic

Canales is the first woman elected to the highest seat in the county in its 172-year history. She defeated an opponent who had garnered endorsements from outgoing Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

"I get to say that it is official. We have won the county judge's race," Canales announced to a crowd of cheering supporters at her watch party.

Canales also praised diversity in the county and referenced that voters helped her become the first Latina to be elected to the judge's seat.

"Our community is beautiful and it is diverse and it should reflect that," Canales said. "It should have women at the helm. It should have Latinos and Latinas at the helm."

What the win means

Canales' win means the Democrats are back in power on the commissioners court with a 3-2 vote majority.

"I think it's going to be interesting to see how this goes. This changes the majority on the court," said Neal, a Republican.

It also means residents are likely to see some changes once she takes office in January 2019. Canales said the budget will be her primary focus, and she'll work to bring in more revenue. The Democrats also will have the benefit of having a major hand in appointments and any redistricting.

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Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (right) receives congratulations from Alex Harris the day after Election Day following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley.(Photo: Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times)

“We need to be in a situation where we can be very strong fiscally,” Canales said outside Calallen East Elementary School on Tuesday. “I want to restore the cash reserves to the 25 percent of operating revenues.”

Canales said she'd also focus on bringing opportunities for growth, including new businesses, into the county.

“I don’t ask my neighbors in church or at school if they’re 'D' or 'R' when I'm working on a project with them, and I don’t expect it to be different in the county.”

Barbara Canales, Nueces County judge elect

Why did she win?

Besides crediting crossover voters for helping propel her to victory Canales talked about being inspired by seeing a more engaged youth vote and her campaign volunteers' perseverance.

She also spoke about her strategy to reach voters over the past few months with block walking, phone calls and texts.

Like Pusley she had some name recognition from years of being in the public spotlight. She was appointed by commissioners to serve on the Port of Corpus Christi board in 2013.

While Nueces County voters chose Democrat Beto O'Rourke over Republican Ted Cruz, who went on to win another Senate term, other down ballot races were mixed. Local voters resoundingly chose Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over Lupe Valdez while Democrat Eric Holguin gave Congressman Michael Cloud a razor thin margin in the county. They were separated by less than 300 votes.

And while Republicans kept their seats with Commissioner Carolyn Vaughn, County Clerk Kara Sands and District Clerk Anne Lorentzen longtime Democratic incumbents like County Court-at-Law Judge Robert Vargas and Justice of the Peace Henry Santana had no problem keeping their seats as well.

Meanwhile, Neal acknowledged Wednesday he wasn't sure why the scales tipped in Canales' favor. He had held an impromptu news conference in the days leading up to Election Day in response to her assertion that the county has financial issues.

"What was interesting to me was (most of) the rest of the Republicans on the ballot won," said Neal, who endorsed Pusley and appeared in TV ads for him. "I have no idea how to explain that."

Will Pusley ask for a recount or concede?

Before the last voting center results were announced Pusley, who stepped down as Pct. 1 county commissioner to run, was still holding out for the last votes to be counted.

He declined to comment to the Caller-Times about whether he'd concede or potentially contest the results. But earlier in the night he'd questioned the number of absentee ballots cast for Canales saying he'd noticed "an anomaly" compared to other races.

"And you see one that is way out sync it just raises a little bit of a question about the legitimacy of those," Pusley said.

On Wednesday morning, Pusley said he was awaiting a call back from County Clerk Kara Sands about the results.

Canales won by 4,407 votes. Of those, all but 260 came from absentee ballots.

When will Barbara Canales take office?

Canales is expected to be sworn in Jan. 1, 2019. But she said that won't be her first day hard at work for the county.

She plans to attend every commissioners court meeting. She also plans to study and become more well-versed in all issues commissioners face.

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Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (from left) receives congratulations from Andres Gonzalez and Alex Garcia the day after Election Day following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley.(Photo: Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times)

What are her top priorities for Nueces County?

Canales' top three priorities are the county's $90.5 million budget, getting to know the ins and outs of all county departments and sitting down with regional political leaders and neighboring county judges.

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Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales lists her top three priorities following the election and what people can expect from her.
Rachel Denny Clow, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

"I'm going to be the type of (county) judge that looks for good people, good businesses to deal with, and creating the environment that we’ve all enjoyed so much," Canales said. "I don’t ask my neighbors in church or at school if they’re 'D' or 'R' when I'm working on a project with them, and I don’t expect it to be different in the county. I expect to be a very open-minded a very fair and very transparent county judge."

Neal said Canales would have to learn the inner workings of the county, and he hoped Canales would realize the county "isn't in as bad of shape as she thinks it is."

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Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (right) receives congratulations from Alex Harris the day after Election Day following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (from left) receives congratulations from Andres Gonzalez and Alex Garcia the day after Election Day following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Republican candidate for Nueces County Judge Mike Pusley (left) looks at early voting numbers with his daughter Candi Pusley during his watch party at the Bar-B-Q Man on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TImes

Kynleigh Tegeler (from left), 6, Kamryn Cleveland, 10, and Ryleigh Tegeler, 9, make up a cheer in support of Republican candidate for Nueces County Judge Mike Pusley at his watch party. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Supporters of Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales listen as she gives her acceptance speech during her watch party at the Best Western on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TImes

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (center) talks with Hugo Berlanga following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley, to earn the county judge seat. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales receives congratulations the day after Election Day following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales receives congratulations from Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb the day after Election Day following the State of the Port at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Canales, a Democrat, received 4,407 more votes than Republican candidate Mike Pusley. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Members of the Mike Pusley campaign team, Jessica Davila-Burnett (left) and Pam OÕConnor, look at early voting numbers for the Nueces County Judge race at the Bar-B-Q Man on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Republican candidate for Nueces County Judge Mike Pusley talks with his brother, Lance Pusley, about early voting numbers at the Bar-B-Q Man on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (left) thanks her mother Yolanda Canales while giving her acceptance speech during her watch party at the Best Western on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TImes

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales thanks her father Tony Canales (left) while giving her acceptance speech during her watch party at the Best Western on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TImes

Nueces County Judge-elect Barbara Canales (from left) thanks her mother Yolanda Canales and father Tony Canales while giving her acceptance speech during her watch party at the Best Western on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TImes

Republican candidate for Nueces County Judge Mike Pusley (left) looks at early voting numbers with a member of his campaign team, Jessica Davila-Burnett, at the Bar-B-Q Man on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Democrat Barbara Canales supporters gather at a Best Western in Corpus Christi as they keep a close eye on election results in the Nueces County race on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times